T he YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Gymcats recently competed in the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships and Festival. From Left to Right-Front Row: Karis Demi, Emily Mikhail, Alisa Colliton, Hayley Watters, Sydney Schroeder, Brittany Jordan, Mariah Park. Left to Right-Back Row: Sarah Guttman, Victoria Rodgers, Kristine Gilligan, Rebecca Cohen, Caroline Billone, Hannah Ellingsworth, Carla Gagliardi, Sheryl Kelsall.
More than a dozen gymnasts from the YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Gymcats team traveled to Inrust Arena and Convention Center in Wichita, KansasFrom June 23 to June 27, to compete against gymnasts from all over the nation in the YMCA National Gymnastics Championships and Festival.
Gymnasts in Levels 6, 7, 8 and 9 proudly represented the YMCA of Greater Brandywine during this intensive four day event. Levels 6, 7, and 8 are all festival divisions with Level 9 truly representing the National Competition.
This year, one of the Gymcat’s top Level 9 competitors, Hayley Watters, earned the highest honor ever to be awarded to a YMCA of Greater Brandywine gymnast -the All American award.
Gymnasts in Level 9 must compete and qualify on the first day in order to move on to the second day of competition. On day two, the all-around medal winners are determined (top 16) with the top 8 of these talented gymnasts being named All Americans. Following these two days of intense competition, qualifying gymnasts move on to day three to compete in the individual event finals to place the top 8 medal winners.
YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Mariah Park competed in Level 9 for two days finishing 12th on the Balance Beam.
Gymcat Hayley Watters competed through all three days and earned the coveted trophy for 5th Place All Around and All American Status. Watters is the first gymnast from the Gymcats team to ever achieve this prestigious honor. She also received two additional medals; 8th place on the Uneven Bars and 5th place on the Balance Beam.
Levels 6 and 7 divisions were festival divisions with 200 girls in both divisions. In festival competitions there are no finals and no team awards. Three Gymcats received a total of six medals in these divisions; Carla Gagliardi – Uneven Bars – 7th place; Emily Mikhail – Vault – 9th place, Uneven Bars – 3rd place, Floor – 7th place, All Around – 5th place. Hannah Ellingsworth – Uneven Bars – 4th place.
Level 8, also a festival division, saw 200 girls qualify with individual awards presented after each session and finalists determined by the top 25 of the 200. This year the Gymcats were proud to have two all-around finalists; Karis Demi placed 25th and Caroline Billone in 17th place. Billone also was awarded 4th place on the Uneven Bars, 7th on the Balance Beam and 5th on Floor.
The YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s Gymcats competition team trains at the Oscar Lasko Youth Program Center on Chestnut Street in West Chester. Donna Watters, Gymnastics and Dance Director at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine, is part of the coaching team for these National competitors and has been coaching gymnastics at the Y for 32 years. Watters along with Glenda Masten, who has more than 20 years of Y gymnastics coaching, Olivia Labs and Autumn Golden are dedicated to teaching the 400 plus youngsters in the Y gymnastics program. These devoted coaches also teach these budding gymnasts to challenge themselves while learning the value of practice and hard work.
Congratulations to all of the Gymcats for their continued perseverance, hard work and dedication to pursuing their passion of gymnastics.
